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CNN Sunday Morning

Camp X-Ray Ready for More Detainees

Aired February 03, 2002 - 07:08   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is ready for more detainees from the Afghan War. Yesterday, the military finished construction work on the facility. CNN's Bob Franken is there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The five times a day prayers are now part of routine for the 158 detainees. The number has stayed at 158 for two weeks. Prisoner flights from Afghanistan were suspended, but now, one of the impediments has been removed.

UNIDENTIFIED SOLDIER: This morning, as a matter of fact, back over to my left, the unit block over there by the tent, we just finished Camp X-ray. But we have 320 units that are available.

FRANKEN: All they will say here is the prisoner flights will resume sometime. It's not just a question of room. Now, officials admit that during all the controversy over treatment of detainees, there have been high-level talks between Washington and other governments about the issue.

UNIDENTIFIED SOLDIER: I think that it's safe to say that we're going - we intend to resume to flights. And in terms of the exact timing of that, those decisions are made several pay grades above mine.

FRANKEN: Another factor, the interrogations or attempted interrogations of each detainee in these sheds. Officials say they wanted to be well along in their questioning of the prisoners but acknowledge they have quite a few of the present ones left. They'd like to say that the detention center here is a work in progress. It even planned for a hurricane.

UNIDENTIFIED SOLDIER: Many of the things that we would use would be empty ammunition bunkers. They're under - they're underground. They're very secure and we could put detainees or our security personnel or our family members in those and other hurricane proof shelters.

FRANKEN: But officials here say that most of the planning is security planning to control the very dangerous inmates. (on-camera): They bring in media from many countries to try and sell their message to the world - that the treatment is as humane as it can be.

Bob Franken, CNN, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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